IE39038B1

IE39038B1 - Apparatus for lifting a submerged pipeline

Info

Publication number: IE39038B1
Application number: IE02234/73A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Saipem Spa
Priority date: 1972-12-20
Filing date: 1973-12-10
Publication date: 1978-07-19
Also published as: AR197432A1; JPS5612752B2; AU6378373A; FR2211392A1; DK145292C; DE2363251B2; DE2363251A1; FI57086B; DE2363251C3; IT983196B; NL7317520A; DK145292B; US3897099A; FI57086C; TR17886A; BR7309991D0; ES421889A1; NO139100C; BE808768A; SE418956B

Abstract

Tong apparatus operated oleopneumatically for lifting a submerged pipeline either directly by a frogman or by an operator on a pontoon or vessel. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws controlled by a double acting cylinder with two pistons. The cylinder has a body pivotally connected to the upper end of one jaw and has an active chamber wherein a first piston with a wide cross-section slides, while a second piston having a small cross-section is pivotally connected to the upper end of the other jaw and slides coaxially as to the first piston in a second active chamber provided by the wide cross-section of the said first piston. [US3897099A]

Description

9 O 3 H This invention rotates to an apparatus suitable for handling a submerged pipeline.

Previously, in order to lift or recover a submerged pipeline lyiiiR nit a submerged bed, it has been necessary to use steel slings which arc paused under the pipeline to t»- lifted, arranged in lh«- Corn of a slipknot and hooked to a suitable lilting device siu-li .'is a vilteli nr crane on hoard .1 surf ur vessel, Tliiri tecltnIque involves several drawback*. Firstly, there is the need to dig channels below Che pipeline in order to allow the slings to be passed below the pipeline, and this operation aav be full of difficulties depending on the nature of the subaerged bed; and secondly, the handling of steel tilings of considerable diameter is gerurally particularly difficult .111«I dangerous for a frogvn, and it requires an execution tine which lia.i been found prohibitive when working at great depths.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus suitable for handling a submerged pipeline, which apparatus con^ir i ses : a longitudinally extending '.>ody provided with at least one abutment region intended to abut a pipeline to be. handled; a plurality of pairs of coov cable jaws, each jaw at a position intermediate its end regions beinj; pivotal ly mounted with respect to the body about an axis parallel or substantially par.il lei to the longi tuiiinal axis of the body, and each jaw being pivotable between (a) an "open" position in which, in use, one end region of the jaw can clear the pipeline to be handled and (bj a "closed" position in which, in use, the one end region of the jaw can abut the pipeline and fnrrt the pipeline towards the. abutment region(s) of the body; and a plurality of actuatable devices each capable, upon actuation, of causing a pair of jaws to move from the "open" position to the "dosed" position; wherein each actuatable device includes 1 hou.-iing defining a first cylindrical chamber in which is s'i.laMy ! • .■ < .-<1 39038 n hollow first piston, the interior of the hollow firm piston defines a second cylindrical chamber in which is »lidably located a second piston, the housing is pivotally linked to the other end region of one jaw in a pair of jaws and the second piston is 5 pivotally linked to the other end region of the other jaw in the saw pair of jaw*.

Preferably the apparatus Includes means tending to cause the actuatable devices to contract, thereby tending to keep the jaws in the "open" position; it is only when the actuatable devices 10 are actuated that this neans is overcosx by a stronger forcc which causes the actuatable device to expand, thereby causing the jaws to Move towards the "closed" position.

Preferably for each actuatable device there are provided four ducts cosmtnicatinp. respectively with the opposite end IS regions of each of the ;irst and second chambers. Preferably t he apparatus includes a first tank co—uni eating via valves with one end region of each first chamber and with the corresponding one end region of each second chaaber, and a second tank cemunieating with the other en. region each first chamber and with the corresponding 20 other end region of each second chaaber. The first and second tanks can be carried by tfv boOy.

A preferred rasbodiraent of this type is one wherein the first tank contains a two-phase system of a liquid and a gas under pressure, and wherein the second tank contains a two-phase system ?"> of a liquid and a gas under a pressure less than that in the first tank. In the case when the liquid phase is oil and the gaseous phase is compressed air, the system is one which will hereinafter be referred to as "oleopneumatic".

Preferably the apparatus also includes at least one further 30 tank comaunicating with the valves and intended for collection of fluid expelled through those ducts leading from the one end regions of the first and second chambers. The further tank(s) can be accommodated in one or more jaws, and can be provided with suitable drain cocks. 390 38 ■ 'unveil ii'iil ly (lie or .iluilatenl rt'giim ot tin- ln»dy i:. arcuate, and preferohly the one end region of each jaw has on arcuate gripping portion for abutting the pipeline to be handleJ.

The apparatus reguires a minima of two pairs of cooperable ; jaws and two actuatable devices, but more can be provided depending on tlw weight or length of pipeline to be handled.

In order to avoid ducts hrtwii tlu-:rpparal•«?» and ;» :snrl'aee vessel, the apparatus can bo tuilc substantially »<-l [ronlaiiK-W with (lie olfopdeuaatic tanks carried by the body. In this case the IP apparatus ran he operated by a frogman. Alternatively, the oloopne«i»-it ic I .inks ran be carried by .1 Kurfact* vessel , and the apparatus operated l»v -i technician aboard the surface vessel.

The closing an opening of the jaws ran be obtained hy the simple shifting of levers aer;nn on threo-way valves allnwint'. Ir, "delivery™ (of liquid under pressure t-> the one end regions of the first and second chambers), "expulsion" (of liquid from the one cml regions of the first and second chambers) or "rest" (with no flow of I iquid).

In order to minimize the oil or other liquid eon simp t ion and 2o to .illow a greater number of closing operations for the jaws of the submerged apparatus without requiring a recharge of the first tank, it is preferred for the first chamber of each actuatable device to have a cross-section considerably larger than the cross-section of the second chamber. In this way, the relatively large movement 2S of jaws required to make the jaws approach the pipeline to be handled can be obtained by introducing oil into the one end region of the second chamber, which invloves the use of only a small quantity of oil (because of the small cross-sectional area), whereas the pipeline grasping operation requiring a relatively JO small jaw movement can be carried out by introducing oil into thu one end region of the first chamber having a wider cross-section with again only a small oil consumption.

- U - 39038 The Mans tending to urge che jaws Into the ''r*en" position should be sufficiently strong to iwva the jaws to the "open" position except when overcome by the oleopneumatir action of the first tank. Since this "opening" thrust lias to be overera# by the "closing1* thrust when the jaws of the apparatus are being closed, ic is desirable to keep the opening thrust to a ainiua.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the saae may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of exaaple, to the accompanying drawings in vnich:- rigure I is a side view of one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, positioned on a submerged pipeline to b« lifted; and Figure 2 is a view, partly in corss-section, of the apparatus and pipeline of Fig\. _ 1, as viewed along the line A-A in Figure 1.

In the drawings, there is shown a pipeline consisting of a metallic tube 1 and a protective ceaent coating 2. The apparatus coaprises a lingitudinally extending body 1 which is made of iron plates electrically welded together; the body is provided at each end region with two transverse arcuate elements 3' and V respectively. Between the transverse arcuate elements 3' and 3" ■it one end region of the body 3 ia a pair of cooperable jaws 5 ami 5* pivotally mounted at a point intermediate their ends by pins 4 extending between the elements 3' and 3". Similarly. between the transverse arcuate elements 3' and 3" at the other end region of the body 3 is a pair of cooperable jaws 6 and 6' pivotally mounted at a point intermediate their ends by pins 4 extending between the elements 3*. and 3". In fact, the jaw 6' is not visible in the drawings since it is behind jaw 6 in Figure 1.

The undersides of the body 3 and the elements 3' and 3" have a curvilinear shape (as seen in transverse cross-section) intended to correspond to the external' configuration of the pipeline to be handled. These undersides, which are shown hatched in Figure 2, are intended to act as abutment regions for the pipeline. On an - 5 - 30038 I'.ii I lit'" hrfclv • is provided .iti .ii • • I il• Imit /! to-iiiit Oil ihi .in upper part ol lite Irtnly t .in- I w< ■ mailt < Kiich of, the jam 5, V, H and ft' is provided al its low«r ref.ioo with a claw II having a curvilinear shape (.in seen in transverse croft-sect ion) corresponding to that of the pipeline to 10 ' be lifted, and the two jaws of each pair of jaws 5, 5' and 6, 6' respectively are mutually connected at their upper regions by Mani of an oleopneuaatically actuatable device 12.

Each of the two devices 12 has a generally cylindrical body 13 which at on? end is pivotally connected to an upper end region IS of jaw 5* (or 6'} by aeons of a pin 14. The body 13 defines a first cylindrical char.bcr "> in which ia located a first piston 16. The interior of the first piston 16 defines a second cylindrical chamber 17 which has a cross-section considerably smaller than that of the firat chamber 15 aiul in which is located a second piston '_»<> 18 coaxial with respect to the first piston 16. The second piston 18 is pivotally connected at its fr. •• ••nd outside t lie chamber 17 to an upper end region of the other jaw S (or 6) of the pair of jaws 5. 5' or ft, ft' by aeons of a pin 19.

Each of the chaabers IS and 17 has an inner end and an outer ::S end, and the arrangeaent is such tH.it movement of the first piston 1ft townrds the inner end of chamber IS and/or movement of the second piston 18 towards the inner end of c.haaber 17 causes the devices 12 to contract, thereby causing tho jaws 5, 5', 6 and ft' to move from the "closed" townrds the "open" position. Similarly, movement of the first pistion 1ft towards tlic outer end 22 of 30 chaaher 15 and/or movement of the second piston 18 towards the - (> - 30U3H outer end 23 of chamber 17 causes the device 12 to expand, thereby causing the jera 5, 5', 6 aad 6' to iaov« froa the "open" towards the "closed" position. Means are provided in device 12 for selectively supplying a liquid under pressure, at different stages of operation to the inner end regions and the outer end regions 22 and 23 of both the first ehaaber IS and the second ehaaber 17. Am can be seen in Figure 2, the side wall of the cylindrical body 13 is provided with two apertures through which liquid under pressure can he introduced into the inner end region and the outer end region 22, respectively, of the first chamber IS. The second piston 18 is provided with one aperture in its end wall for supplying liquid under pressure to the inner end regioo of the second ehaaber 17 aad with another aperture in its tide wall for supplying liquid under pressure to the outer end region 23 of the second ehaaber 17.

The inner end regions of the chambers IS and 17 cosnunicate with the suin oleopneuaat ic accuauiators S by neans of ducts (not shown) provided with three-way valves 20 and 21 operated by levers (not show). The outer end regions 22 and 23 of the first and second chaabers II and 17 respectively coasnunicate directly with ducts 24 and 25 respectively, leading to an oleopneuaatic accunulatcr 26 fixed by aetalli - stirrups (not shown) on one side of the body 3. The fluid in the accuaulator 26 subject the pistons 16 and 18 to a continuous thrust in that direction which tends to maintain the jaws 5, 5", 6 and 6' in the "open" position; this thrust has to be overcoe* by the oleopneuaatic closing thrust created by the movement of fluid from the aain accuauiators 8 to the inner end regions of chaabers 15 and 17, in order to close the jaws.

When re-opening the jaws, the three-vay valves 20 and 21 are opened so as to allow liquid to flow froa the inner end regions of chaabers 15 and 17 to watertight reservoirs 27 provided within the jaws 5 (pod 6) and frcn which liquid nay be withJrawn ;) 9 U 3 8 th'oiijvl' I'ni'k .'.H ( . I '# .nid' 17, under tltp action'of tht» fluid in iluj uceumnl.il or 2h. ' , 'l A ok'tltod of iipt-rnt in^-tlm apparatus illustrated in i.hr dfrawutr.s will now hi- ih-srr ihed • Tin*, apparatus in .hooked hy Means of its.eye 7 in t.lu* r.huin or rope of a winch or crane on a surface vessel, and iticn it is towered until the underside of the body 3 rests on the submerged pipeline 1, 2 to he grasped and lifted; during this lowering, the jaws of the apparatus are automatically kept in the "open" position by the thrust on the pistons 16 and 18 caused by the fluid forced into the nnivr cod regions 22 and 23 of-tin" c.hrudters l'» aiul 17 from the aci-«itmil.i« or 26. Then a frogmao shifts the lover controlling. tht> three-way valve 21 to that position which allows oil in the nuin accuauiators 8 to be conveyed into the inner end repions of the second chambers 17; this oil, by exerting a thrust which is greater than the thrust caused by the fluid in-the accumulator 26, causes the pistons 18 to move towards the. outer ends of the secon.! chambers 17 so that the jaws 5, 5', 6 and 6* of the apparatus begin to close, and approach the pipeline to be grasped and lifted. When this approach operation i6 completed, the frogman shifts the afore-DK-ntioncd lever to a rest position, and then shifts the lever controlling the three-vay valve 20 to that position which allows the detivery of oil frost the main accumulator 8 to the inner end regions of the first chambers 15 so that a larger thrust is exerted on the pistons 16 and the jaws 5, 5', 6 and 6' are consequently caused to grasp firmly the pipeline, which can now be lifted by tin* winch or crane.

In order to release the pipeline once raised, tIn* frogman (or surface technician) shifts the levers control Iiug tin* three-way valves 21 and 20 to those positions which allow the jaws lc move to the "open" position, under the action of the thrust of tin-fluid in the accumulator 26, which causes the pistons If) and 18 - 8 - s 39038 to cause the oil in the inner end regions of the chambers IS and 17 to be discharged into the reservoirs 27.

The olcojmeuMtic accumulators 8 and 26 vhich in the enhodinent. illustrated in the dtwia|s are nounted on the body 3, can in an alternative embodiment be located on the dech of a pontoon or other surface vessel and the oleopneuaatic energy necessary to operate the jaws may be conveyed to the actuatable devices 12 through appropriate pipes.

Claims

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatua suitable for handling a submerged pipeline, which apparatus comprises: a longitudinally extending body provided with at leaat one abutment region intended to abut a pipeline to be handled; a plurality of pairs of cooperable jaws, each jaw .n a position intermediate its end regions being pivotally mounted with rcspcct to the body about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and each jav being pivotable between (a) an "open" position in which, in use, one end region of the jav can clear the pipeline to be handled and (b) a "closed" position in which, in use, the one end region of the jaw can abu; the pipeline and force the pipeline towards the abutment region(n) of the body; and a plurality of actuatable devices each capable, upon actuation, of causing a pair of jaws to move from the "open" position to the "closed" position; wherein each actuatable device includes a housing defining a first cylindrical chamber in which is slidahly located a hollow first piscion, the interior of the hollow first piston defines a second cylindrical ch-iaher in which is slidably lumieJ a second piston, the housing is pivotally linked to the other end region of one jaw in a pair of jaws and the second piston is pivotally linked to the other end region of the other jaw in the pair of jaws. 39038 ?. "An a|>f>.-ir.-jtiiM ar.cQrillnJt to Olaia I, which also Includes mtMins which tciki) (11 nr)>> 'th»* jtnwg (nt n the "opcrtn pox it i him) which c.ih' l«- ind'HMW liy ttii' u»'l iint jt«| to t lie ia-Mint .'title tie vicm : «n apparatus.-.according to e.l«ia 2. vtH'ifin (<>r i-nch 5 actuatable device .there ere provided four ducts eoenunicating respectively with the opposite end regions of each of the first and second chanters. 4. . An apparatus. according to Claia 3, which includes a first tank coaainicating via valves with one end region of each ID first ch«ab«r and* with the corresponding one end region of each second ehaaber, and a second tank eoanunicating with the other end region of each first ehaaber and with the corresponding other end region of each second ehaaber. 5. An apparatus according to Claim i, wherein the first IS and second tanks are carried by the body. (i. An apparatus according to Claims 6 or 5, wherein the first tank contains .1 two-phase system of a liquid and .i t;as under pressure, .nxl whert*»i» tlw second lank i-mkjins a two-phase system of ,i liquid and a gas under a pressure less than (hat. in the first i'n tank. 7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the liquid is oil and the gas is air. 8. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, which includes at least one further tank conmunicating with the i5* valves and intended for collection of fluid expelled through those ducts leading from the one end regions of the first and second chambers. 9. An apparatus according to Claia 8, wherein the further tankfs) is/are acconmodated within one or more jaws. l'1 IO. An apparatus according to any preceding • i.iim, wherein the or each abutment region of the body is arcuate. 11. An apparatus according to any preceding ciain. wherein the one end region of each jaw has an arcuate gripping portion for ahmi ing rhc pipeline to be handled. 12. An apparatus according to any preceding clnlm, wlo-n iii there are pr»-nent two pair* of couperablt* jnwa mul two netuntable devices. 13. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in. Figures I «nd 2 of the accoopanyiog drawings. KACLACHLAN * DONALDSON Applicants' Agents 47 Kerrion Square, DUBLIH

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